The Neues Museum (New Museum) is the crown jewel of Berlin’s UNESCO World Heritage Museum Island. Famous for housing the iconic bust of Nefertiti, it combines three major collections: the Egyptian Museum, the Museum of Prehistory and Early History, and the Collection of Classical Antiquities. The building itself is a masterpiece of “complementary restoration,” where war ruins blend with modern architecture.
Where is the Neues Museum
The museum is located centrally on Museum Island in the Mitte district.
- Address: Bodestraße 1-3, 10178 Berlin.
- Location: It sits directly between the Alte Nationalgalerie and the (currently closed) Pergamon Museum.
Neues Museum tickets
- Regular Admission: Approximately €14.00.
- Reduced Admission: Approximately €7.00 (Students, seniors, disabled persons).
- Children (Under 18):Free admission.
- Important: Even though children enter for free, you must book a “0.00 EUR” ticket for them online to manage capacity.
- Booking: It is highly recommended to book a time-slot ticket online via the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (SMB) website. This museum is the most popular on the island, and slots often sell out.
Berlin Museum Island Pass
If you plan to visit more than one museum, these passes save money:
- Museum Island Day Ticket (~€24): Gives you access to all open museums on the island (Neues, Altes, Bode, Alte Nationalgalerie, Panorama) for one day.
- Museum Pass Berlin (~€32): Valid for 3 consecutive days for over 30 museums in Berlin (including Neues Museum).
- Berlin WelcomeCard Museum Island: Provides free entry to the museums on the island plus free public transport.
How to get to the Neues Museum
- By U-Bahn (Subway): Take the U5 line to Museumsinsel. The exit is just a few steps from the museum entrance.
- By S-Bahn (Train):
Hackescher Markt (S3, S5, S7, S9): 5-minute walk.
Friedrichstraße (S1, S2, S25): 10-minute walk. - By Tram: Lines M1 and 12 stop at Am Kupfergraben. Lines M4, M5, M6 stop at Hackescher Markt.
- By Bus: The 100 and 300 sightseeing buses stop at Lustgarten, right in front of the island.
Neues Museum hours
- Monday: Closed.
- Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM.
- Holidays: Open on most public holidays (even if they fall on a Monday).
Exceptions: Closed on December 24. Usually open on New Year’s Day (Jan 1) from 12:00 PM. Always check the official calendar for Dec 31st hours.
Best time to visit Neues Museum
- Weekday Mornings: The 10:00 AM slot on a Tuesday or Wednesday is the best chance to see Nefertiti without a crowd.
- Late Afternoons: Arriving around 4:00 PM allows for a calmer visit as the large tour groups usually depart by then.
- Avoid: Rainy weekends are the busiest times.
How long does Neues Museum take?
- Average Visit: 2 to 2.5 hours. This allows you to explore the Egyptian wing, see the major prehistoric finds, and admire the architecture.
- Highlights Only: You can see the main stars (Nefertiti, Golden Hat, Skull) in about 60 minutes.
- Deep Dive: If you listen to the audio guide for the prehistoric tools and Trojan finds, plan for 3.5 hours.
Free entry into New Museum, Berlin
- Under 18s: Always free.
- Museum Sunday: On the first Sunday of every month, admission is free for everyone.
Warning: You must book a free time slot online. These tickets are released a few weeks in advance and usually sell out within minutes.
What to see in Neues Museum
The museum is divided into geographical and chronological sections.
- Bust of Nefertiti (North Dome Hall): The absolute highlight. This 3,300-year-old limestone bust is kept in a dedicated room. Photography is strictly forbidden in this specific room to protect the pigment.
- The Berlin Gold Hat: An elaborate Bronze Age artifact made of thin gold leaf, used by priests for solar cult rituals.
- Egyptian Courtyard: A stunning architectural space featuring massive sarcophagi and statues.
- Priam’s Treasure (Trojan Antiquities): While the originals are in Moscow, this section displays Heinrich Schliemann’s controversial finds from Troy, including fine replicas of the gold jewelry.
- The Neanderthal Skull: The original skull from Le Moustier is on display in the Stone Age section.
- Green Head: An incredibly realistic Egyptian slate head from the Late Period.
Neues Museum map
The layout is roughly rectangular with two internal courtyards.
- Level 0 (Ground Floor): Egyptian Courtyard, Pharaonic art, and mythological papyri.
- Level 1 (First Floor): The Nefertiti Bust (North Dome), Schliemann’s Trojan finds.
- Level 2 (Second Floor): Prehistory and Early History (Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age), the Golden Hat.
- Level 3: Migration Period and Roman Provinces.
Neues Museum cafe
- Allegretto Caffé: Located inside the museum on the ground floor. It offers coffee, cakes, and light lunches (sandwiches, salads). It is a good place to rest, though it can get busy.
- Note: You need a museum ticket to access this café.
Neues Museum’s architects
The building is a dialogue between two eras:
- Friedrich August Stüler (1843–1855): The original architect. A student of Schinkel, he designed the building in a Neoclassical and Renaissance Revival style using industrial iron technology new for its time.
- David Chipperfield (1997–2009): The British architect responsible for the reconstruction. Instead of hiding the damage from WWII bombs, he preserved the bullet holes and charred walls, blending them with modern concrete elements. This unique approach won the Mies van der Rohe Award.
